Maple Leafs scouting director Mark Leach outlines ‘best player available’ approach ahead of NHL Draft

Toronto Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach outlined a ‘best player available’ approach ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Leach, along with Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving held media availabilities Thursday at the Ford Performance Centre, where they addressed questions about the upcoming draft. Treliving primarily addressed inquiries about Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Matthew Knies’ impending contract statuses, while Leach was focused on the draft ahead, with the Leafs slated to make their first pick at No. 64.

“At this point, picking No. 64, it kind of takes care of itself,” Leach said. “We’ll sit and as (Treliving) said, do we move up, do we move down? We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Leach joined the Maple Leafs as their scouting director in July 2024, after Wes Clark joined the Pittsburgh Penguins. He previously worked for the Dallas Stars, operating closely with general manager Jim Nill. He previously won four Stanley Cups as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, before joining the Stars organization.

“Personally, you take the best available player talent-wise at that pick. When you get down to No. 64 and that area, these players take a little longer to develop. It’s not a straight line from point A to B. Most of them are 3-5 years away,” Leach said.

Leach reiterated that he’s sticking to the best available to talent, while emphasizing that most players outside of the top 10 have small flaws in their game. It appears that the Maple Leafs are looking to find real value at No. 64, where a potential first-round pick could slide down the board.

If you want to parse through Leach’s answers for clues, the Maple Leafs could be looking to select players with winning pedigrees at the major junior or NCAA levels. And it’s entirely possible the team could be looking for a physical defenceman, to replicate the mold of the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

“Look at the playoffs. Florida has a big team. You have two months of grind. I think size is a factor, but also if the kid has a big heart. I do like size, no question about it.”

READ NEXT: 5 players the Maple Leafs could target with the No. 64 pick at 2025 NHL Draft 

It’ll be compelling to see what the Leafs emerge with during a draft where they’ll have to sit patiently through the majority of the first two rounds, before making a pick. Patience could be a virtue, as the Maple Leafs look to find real value across the board, with an experienced scouting director leading the charge in a decentralized format.